When I do harmonic balancer, should I do cam?
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From: Dyer, IN
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From: Guinness Its whats for B'fast JAWGA
CI 3-4-5-9 Veteran
Pull the water pump and front cover to get the camout, if leaving the lifters in. You can spin the cam and hope the lifters don't fall or use the dowel pin method. I'd replace the lifters and get new GM lifter buckets which requires pulling the heads.
It is a good idea to check for piston to valve clearance and always measure lifter preload when swapping cams.
Have your tuner lined up before selecting cams, and get the recommended springs, push rods, lifters etc. for the cam.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Pingree Grove IL
Just curious??? Is it easier for an installer to disassemble the front of the engine, drop the steering rack, and install cam and balancer, or just pull the engine, work on it while on an engine stand, then reinstall???
Racer
Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Massachusetts
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2022
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From: Nappytown MD
Just my opinion, If you do decide to go ahead and upgrade the cam and are in the heads to do lifters and check pushrods etc., I would go ahead and do a rocker trunnion upgrade and get rid of the stock needle bearings on the rockers. I would hate to spend that coin and then have a rocker fail and those little needles drop in possibly.
My builder recommended the CHE upgrade. There are others too-
https://www.cheprecision.com/part/trunnion-kits/
My builder recommended the CHE upgrade. There are others too-
https://www.cheprecision.com/part/trunnion-kits/
Thread Starter
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From: Lovelock nevada
I'll do the intake tuner n headers. I really wanna leave my gears alone because I like cruising at 85 mph n rpm's only 1800
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From: Lovelock nevada
Just my opinion, If you do decide to go ahead and upgrade the cam and are in the heads to do lifters and check pushrods etc., I would go ahead and do a rocker trunnion upgrade and get rid of the stock needle bearings on the rockers. I would hate to spend that coin and then have a rocker fail and those little needles drop in possibly.
My builder recommended the CHE upgrade. There are others too-
https://www.cheprecision.com/part/trunnion-kits/
My builder recommended the CHE upgrade. There are others too-
https://www.cheprecision.com/part/trunnion-kits/
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,661
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From: Pingree Grove IL
yeah, lots of stuff. I want to do a heads and cam combo too. Maybe even a BTR 383 forged stroker build. I don’t know. I even thought of making my C5 my daily. Give my current daily to my 15 year old son, and put a C8 or C9 in the garage. IDK. My thoughts are mixed. But if I tear into the C5, I’ll have a shop do the whole thing. Do it once, do it right.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2025
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From: Lovelock nevada
yeah, lots of stuff. I want to do a heads and cam combo too. Maybe even a BTR 383 forged stroker build. I don’t know. I even thought of making my C5 my daily. Give my current daily to my 15 year old son, and put a C8 or C9 in the garage. IDK. My thoughts are mixed. But if I tear into the C5, I’ll have a shop do the whole thing. Do it once, do it right.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Pingree Grove IL
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 1999
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From: Guinness Its whats for B'fast JAWGA
CI 3-4-5-9 Veteran
